The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1887-06-23
A QUEER FOURTH.
The Boys Good Joke, and What
Came Of It.

Inc Boys GOOD Joke, ana what
Came Of It.
tits going to be tho meanest kind
Of . Fourth of July. No b'loon on the
common, and no fireworks. They're
not even going to ring the church-bell
because that little old sexton. Sandy
Mcyie, is too lazy, ] supposed"
Truman Bluford, generally known
among his comrades as True Blue, was
excitedly announcing this dismal news
to Rob Trip and Tenney Cole. in his
fathers store.
There's no patriotism IN Cherry
field. They've all forgotten how our
fathers fought and bled," said Rob
Trip. who liked to read nothing but
stories Of battle, and meant to fight
something when he grew up. if it were
only Indians.
ut will be as still as Sunday, I
know. What is the Fourth Of July with
out a racket" said Tenney Cole, de-
jectedly.
II toll you, boys, something ought to
be donei" said True.
That was what the boys liked about
True. He was always ready to do
something. Older people were inclined
to think he was q little too ready to do
mischief. but the boys were generally
ready to follow where True led the
way.
1--WE might ring the church BELL"
said True.
That wasn't much to do Rob thought;
It sounded rather tame. Still it would
be fun to wake the stupid Cherryfeld
people out of the maps which they had
no business to be having on Fourth of
July morning, and startle the select
men, who had decided hat there should
be no ringing Of bells.
How could we get into the church,"
asked Tenny Cole, who was of a prac-
teal turn Of mind.
Break in, of course" replied True,
coolly. you can't expect to have all
that fun without-well, without hearing
something about it afterward. We could
break a windowin the porch; and when
we once got hold of the rope, wouldn't
we make people think the bell was be-
witchedp They'd blame Sandy Movie
for not being on the watch, too. 1t
would be a good joke on the old rascal.
He's got us in into enough trouble by
telling of u.s.
True's father was coming from the
back part of the store, so the boys low
cred their voices and walked quietly
out at the door; while beyond the coun-
ter, from the STOPPING posture in which
he had been measuring for himself a
gallon of molasses, arose Sandy Movie.
He looked after the boys, with all the
shrowd little wrinkles in his face draw
ing themselves up in hard knots.
"a good joke on the old rascal,
woulditp" he muttered. There's never
any knowing how a joke may turn out,
my fine fellows! You're fixing a
Fourth of July celebration for your
selves that'n be more than you bar
gained for. if I'm not mistaken"
The boys went on, all unconscious
that Sandy Movie had been a listener
to the conversation that was certainly
not intended for his ears.
at would be a good thing if we
could get into the church without
breaking a window" said Tenney
Cole. There's little Rose Movie now.
Let's ask her where her father keeps
the key"
Hanging on a nail in the closet, un.
der his coat" replied the little girl, or
being questioned.
eCouldn't you get it for us, Rosy,
and not let anybody know it, if we
gave YOU the greatest lot of candy YOU
ever saw, and a bunch of torpedoes fol
tomorrow"
Rosy vas a very small person, with
a very large. appetite for candy, to say
nothing of a strong desire to celebrat,
with the proper amount of noise thu
anniversary of her country's independ
ence. Her eyes grew big and round a
the alluring prospect, and she nodded
emphatically her willingness to under
take the errand.
So it was settled that she shoul'
bring them the key that night, afte
her father had hung up his coat in tn
closet, SO there would be no DANCE
that he would go there again and dis
coxar the absence of the key.
That afternoon Sandy Movie and hi
son a stout lad of eighteen, paid
visit to the church. Archie, the sor
came out looking very warm and tired
Better have let them do it, and the
make them smart for it, than to tax
all that trouble" he grumbled. &c
Just give their fathers a hint of whs
they are up to-"
..Sinee they are so fond of jokes, II
willing they should have a bit of
one," said the sexton, rubbing h
hands gleefully. They'll catch itfa
enough for breaking the church-wil
dow.
Rosy McVic stole out of the hous
that night after dark and delivered tt
church-key into True's hands, recei
ing in return an amount of candy ar
torpcdoes that had cost a large shal
of the boys Fourth of July saving
But they were all satisfied that it W
money well spent, for they Ind learne
from sad sxpsrtsncsj that the results